When your father tells the world, “you may not make it to your 24th birthday if they don’t help you,” what’s a sports hero to do?
Johnny Manziel became known as Johnny Football during his college days playing for Texas A&M. His stardom was on the rise well before his days as a varsity high school freshmen. He was primed for success as a young man in baseball, football, basketball and golf. Truth of the matter is, Johnny had a bevy of choices to make. Despite not having played baseball since his junior year; he was drafted by MLB’s San Diego Padres in 2014, the same year he was drafted by the NFL’s Cleveland Browns.
Manziel has accomplished numerous NCAA Division I records, chief among them being the first freshman to win the Heisman Trophy, Manning Award and the Davey O’ Brien National Quarterback Award.
Even before he was the starting quarterback for Texas A&M, Manziel was familiar with the wrong side of the law. It seems Manziel’s family has been plagued with being on the border of unlawful behavior for generations. To get an idea of what exactly went on with Manziel’s lineage and understand the gravity of the issue, see this here to understand the kid of help he needed. The Manziel family wealth comes from the Texas petroleum industry; however, there are pockets of contributions made from illegal cockfighting and skeevy deals done by Johnny’s forefathers.
Manziel’s issues have now become domestic in nature. Even though he has denied the allegations, the police were called by his reported ex-girlfriend after she claimed Johnny had assaulted her on January 30th. It is not uncommon, according to the Dallas police, for victims of domestic violence “to question or delay reporting an assault.”
Colleen Crowley, Manziel’s ex-girlfriend, alleges he assaulted her several times at a downtown Dallas hotel. She also claims after they left the hotel an argument ensued with them both screaming loudly at each other. He struck her several times before telling her “shut up or I’ll kill us both.” She insist he was not intoxicated but said his behavior was of someone on drugs. She was granted a 2 year restraining order requiring Manziel to stay at least 500 feet away from her as well as make no verbal contact.
Manziel’s father has stated the family has tried to get him back in rehab twice this week and he left both times. On Tuesday, Johnny’s father told doctors at a psychiatric and chemical dependency hospital he believed his son to be suicidal, but they let him leave anyway.
Manziel’s agent has already ended their relationship and the Browns are rumored to be releasing him in March. League rules prohibit them from making an official statement regarding Manziel’s status at this time.
What’s a watched sports hero to do? At what point should someone have stepped in to help? Why were all the warning signs ignored? Johnny has been reported as being a Christian, I pray he still is and pray that now and always, he will lean on Christ. Let’s keep him and his family lifted in prayer.
